Lamp having swing apart access portion



y 23, 1967 D. E. DAILEY 3,321,619

LAMP HAVING SWING APART ACCESS PORTION Filed Jan. 4, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR X /f AM ATTORNEYS May 23, 1967 0. E. DAILEY LAMP HAVING SWING APART ACCESS PORTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1965 Z 4 flan #4052045) $44M QQ/AM,

ATTORNEY y 23, 1967 0. E. DAILEY 3,321,619

LAMP HAVING SWING APART ACCESS PORTION Filed Jan. 4, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 f; //4 @5. Ma

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May 23, 1967 D. E. DAILEY 3,321,619

LAMP HAVING SWING APART ACCESS PORTION Filed Jan. 4, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Dow/94 0 13 2/9/24 5 r ,1 V 7 ATTORNEYJ? United States Patent 3,321,619 LAMP HAVING SWING APART ACCESS PORTION Donaid E. Bailey, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Arkla Industries Inc., Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 423,255 7 Claims. (Cl. 240-41) The present invention relates to lamps and more particularly to a lamp having a two-piece body and are hingedly joined about a longitudinally extending diagonal plane of symmetry to provide easy access to the interior of the body.

Although the invention is particularly described herein as relating to gas lamps, it should be apparent that principles of the invention can be advantageously employed in other lamps such as those which simulate gas lamps but house electric light bulbs and the wiring therefor.

Fondly recalling former times when carriage lamps, post lanterns, and street lights were of the gas burning variety, many suburban as well as increasing numbers of urban and rural home owners and proprietors of businesses such as restaurants and the like have installed operating recreations of such lights having classic or neoclassic lines.

After installation, such lamps require at least some periodic maintenance such as cleaning of the glass panels thereof, mantle replacement, adjustment of the flame height and the draft or, in the case of electric light simulations, the replacement of bulbs.

Prior art carriage lamps, post lanterns and the like have usually been provided with an access door including one glass side panel or, perhaps two access doors comprising opposing side walls or alternately a removable or pivotable chimney portion.

Cleaning and adjustment of such lamps requires a considerable amount of dexterity because of the cramped area in which the work must be done.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a lamp of the type described wherein easy access may be had, to the lamp body interior so that cleaning and adjustments of portions of the lamp within the body are facilitated.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision in a lamp of the type described of a body portion which is formed in two complementary portions which abut one another along a longitudinally directed diagonal plane of symmetry of the body, said body portions being pivotally joined to one another along one adjoining edge of each and at least one of the body portions being swinga-ble with respect to the mounting for the lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rugged and attractive lamp of the type described which is composed primarily of a porcelain coated cast aluminum alloy.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent during the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of a lamp embodying principles of the present invention, specific reference being made to the attached drawings wherein the embodiment described is shown.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a gas lamp according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the movable body portion rotated to the open position thereof to provide access to the body interior;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the lamp as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view along the diagonal plane of symmetry of the lamp, taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the pivotable body portion;

3,32 l ,6 I 9 Patented May 23, 1 967 FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the stationary body portion;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIGURE 1.

The lamp 10 as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 includes a body 12 having four generally trapezoidal glass panel receiving sides 14 arranged with respect to one another so as to define a generally inverted frusto pyramidal chamber 16.

As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the body 12 is cast in two similar complementary sections 18, 20. The section 18 is preferably cast as a unit from aluminum or similarly durable and easy to maintain material and includes two glass panel receiving sides 14 extending at generally right angles with respect to each other. As illustrated the sides 14 are defined by upper and lower generally horizontally extending frame elements 22 and 24 and generally upwardly divergent frame elements 26 and 28, 28'.

The elements 26 of the two sides 14 as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 8 are coextensive transversely adjacent integrally cast and disposed at right angles with respect to one another. The frame elements 22, 24, 26, 28, 28' are preferably filleted and adjacent the ends where they join one another as at 30, 32 to provide corners that are pleasing in appearance and relatively easy to cast, coat and maintain. The frame elements 22, adjacent their upper extent flare outwardly at 33 to provide a smooth transitional curve into the roof 34 to be described hereinafter. The frame elements 22-28' define glass panel receiving frames 36 in which generally trapezoidal glass panels 38 are received from the rear thereof, that is, from the interior of the chamber 16, and held in place by a plurality of spring clips 40. The clips 40 are each mounted on an integral boss 42 formed on each frame element 22 and 24 and removably held in place as by screws 44.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the frame element 28 is enlarged and longitudinally throughbored at 46 to receive a hinge pin 48.

The frame element 28' is best illustrated in FIGURES l and 7 has an integral, laterally extending boss 50 which is throughbored at 52. The throughbore 52 is preferably threaded adjacent the outer end thereof and counterbored adjacent the inner end thereof and recives a knurled head screw 54 which operates as a latch as explained hereinafter.

The frame elements 24 each have an inwardly curving, generally horizontally extending flange 56 integrally cast at the lower extent thereof. The flange 56 is preferably semi-circularly curved at its laterally inner extent 58.

The body stationing section 20 is similar to the movable section 18 and is therefore similarly numerated but for the non-similar portions thereof.

The two side edges of the section 20 are defined by frame elements 60, 60' similar to frame elements 28, 28. The element '60 as best seen in FIGURE 9 is relieved at 62 to receive the enlarged frame element 28 and has integral laterally extending hinge pin mounting flanges 64 formed thereon adjacent its lower extent. The hinge pin 48 is preferably inserted through a throughbore 66 in the lower flange 64 and a threaded plug 68 thereafter inserted in the bore 66 to retain the hinge pin 48 in place as shown.

A metallic threaded socket 7t} composed of relatively tough materal such as steel is preferably cast in the laterally extending boss 72 on the frame element 60" at an orientation to t hreadably removably receive the screw 54. As best seen in FIGURES 7 and 9 the frame elements 28, 60 and 28', 60 preferably have longitudinally extending ribs 74, 76 intergrally formed thereon at their lateral edges which intercalate labyrinth-like when the body is closed to prevent wind and precipitation from being blown into the body between the housing sections. The section 20 also includes a plurality of laterally inwardly extending bosses 78 formed on the inner sides of the frame element outwardly flaring region 33 and a plurality of more laterally elongated bosses 80 formed on the inner side of the frame elements 24 of the body section 20 near their lower extent but above the flange 56 thereof. Each of the hoses 78 and Si) is preferably vertically throughbored and tapped at 82, 84 for securement to the lamp roof and support respectively to be described.

The roof 34 is preferably cast as a unit from aluminum alloy or the like similarly as the body 12. As shown,

the roof is generally frusto-pyramidal, convergent upwardly; and flaring outwardly at 86 near the base thereof. Along the lower extent of two of its sides, the roof 34 has integral downwardly projecting bosses 88 on the interior thereof which have downwardly facing threaded sockets 90 aligned with the bosses 78 of the body section 20. The roof is secured to the body 12 by screws 92 received upwardly through the bores 82 of the body section 20 and into the threaded sockets 90 of the roof 34. The lower, outer region of the roof 34 is formed as a downwardly opening U-shaped channel 91 having a longer inner leg 93 to receive the upper extent of the body and prevent wind from blowing between the body and the roof.

Near its upper extent, the roof 34 has a generally horizontal region 94 which at its outer extent integrally merges with the frusto-pyramidal portion of the roof and at its inner extent integrally merges with an upwardly extending generally tubular chimney or vent 96. The vent has a pair of intersecting cross bars 98 integrally formed supradjacent the tubular portion thereof to define a plurality of upwardly, outwardly directed openings 100. As shown in FIGURE 4 the vent tubular portion 96 also includes an integral, upwardly directed locator tab 102 thereon between the junctures of the one ends of the cross bars 98 with the tubular portion 96 upper extent.

At the juncture 104 of the cross bars 98 a vertically directed throug-hbore 106 is formed and a rain shield 108 which is smaller than though similar in appearance to the roof is removably mounted thereon preferably by a threaded bolt 110 received upwardly through the bore 106 and a similarly placed bore 112 in the shield 108 and into a decorative knob 114 having a downwardly opening threaded socket 116. As shown the cross bars 98 abut a generally tubular skirt 11S integrally depending from the interior of the rain shield. The skirt 118 is shown notched at 120 to receive the locator tab .102 which prevents rotation of the shield during assembly.

A cylinder screen 122 may be inserted prior to placement of the rain shield so as to peripherally surround the tubular vent 96 and prevent large windborne objects such as raindrops or leaves from entering through the opening 100.

The lamp also includes a support 124 adapted to peripherally engage a lamp post 126 or the like. The support 124 includes a generally vertically directed skirt 128 having a plurality of set screw receiving openings 130 adjacent its lower extent for securing the support to the lamp post. The skirt 128 is topped by an integral, disk-like support base 132 having a major diameter which is larger than the exterior diameter of the skirt 128.

The support 124 is also preferably cast from a durable material such as aluminum alloy and has an opening 134 formed centrally therethrough. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the base 132 is depressed annularly between the opening 134 and the outer periphery thereof so as to define a broad, shallow channel 136 between annular upstanding flanges 138, 140. A plurality of angularly spaced vertically directed openings 142 are formed through "base 132 so as to intersect the channel 136. As shown three of the openings 142 are reinforced with integrally formed bosses 144 and are aligned with tapped bores 84in the bosses 81 of the body section 20. Screws received through the lastmentioned three openings 142 and into the tapped bores 84 secure the body stationary portion 20 to the base 132 so that the lamp body 12, when in the closed position thereof shown in FIGURE 1, has the semi-circularly curved inner extent 58 of the flanges 56 abuttingly adjacent the base outer peripheral flange A flat annular screen 146 is received between the flanges 13S and 140 bridging the channel 136 so as to regulate the size of the remaining openings 142. The screen 146 may be secured to the base 132 by any convenient means such as da-bs 14 8 of a metal filled adhesive resin.

The lamp 10 is completed by the burner-gas supply assembly 150 which includes a burner base 152 having an orifice 153 received upwardly through the opening 134' and secured in place between an annular flange 154 on the burner base hexagon lock 156 nut or equivalent fastening means which are shown abuting the flange 138 on the lower and upper surfaces thereof respectively. A pipe nipple 158, shut-off valve 160 and riser pipe 162 communicated to the gas source are connected to the burner base 152 so as to extend within the support skirt 128 and lamp post 126. In assembling the lamp to the post the skirt 128 is preferably positioned so that a lateral opening 164 in the skirt is aligned with a lateral opening 166 in the post 126 to allow the insertion of a screwdriver or similar tool for turning the valve stem in the shut-off valve 160.

A burner mixer tube 168 is received over the burner base 152. The burner mixer tube 168 is shown having a slot 170 formed therethrough for the admission of air for mixing with the gas being burned. An air shutter 172 in the form of a vertically adjustable C-clip or the like is provided for partially blocking off the slot 170 to regulate the flame. A replaceable mantle 174 is slidingly frictionally received on the upper end of burner mixer tube.

A decorative cone 178 having openings 180 through the base region thereof may be placed around the burner mixer tube 168.

In use the lamp 10 can be opened from the position of FIGURE 1 to that of FIGURE 2 simply by turning the knurled knob of the screw 54 whereupon the movable body section 18 swings away from the stationary body section 20 on the hinge 46, 48, 64, 66. Because the body 12 separates on a diagonal thereof and the body section 18 swings downwardly and outwardly by virtue of the angularly oriented hinge easy access may be had to the entire interior of the body, for instance for the removal of any or all of the glass panels for cleaning. By virtue of the fact that the glass panels may be easily slipped out from under the retaining spring clips they may be more conveniently washed and replaced. The wide opening provided by the swinging apart of the gas lamp also facilitates adjustment of the burner mixer tube and air shutter and the replacement of the mantle.

The gas lamp 10 body can be closed by simply rotating the section 18 toward the sec-tion 20 and turning the knurled knob of the screw 54.

Preferably the cast portions of the lamp 10 are glazed or porcelain coated all over so as to have a permanent attractive protective finish. The burner-gas supply as sembly 150 may be conventionally constructed of brass or the like.

Although the lamp 10 has been particularly described as a pole mounted lamp many of the principles of the invention are clearly likewise applicable to carriage lamps, wall mounted or bracket mounted lamps and the like.

It should now be apparent that the lamp embodiment just discussed and illustrated in the drawings efliciently accomplishes each of the objects of the invention and makes the inventions principles clearly understandable. Because the embodiment shown can be modified somewhat without departing from these principles, the invention should be understood as encompassing all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gas lamp including: a chamber defining body having a plurality of glass panel receiving sides, said sides being obliquely angularly disposed with respect to one another, at least two of said sides being integrally fixedly joined to one another along a lateral edge of each, said two sides being hingedly joined to the remainder of said sides via hinge means on the opposite lateral edge of one of said two sides so as to be swingable toward the remainder of said sides in a closed position thereof and away therefrom in an open position thereof to close and open said chamber, and latch means on the other of said two sides cooperable with the remainder of the body for removably securing said two sides in the closed position thereof.

2. A gas lamp as set forth in claim 1 further including a roof secured to the remainder of said sides, said roof extending over all of said sides including said two sides when said two sides are disposed in the closed position thereof.

3. A gas lamp as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of frame defining elements on each glass panel receiving side, means defining a clip secured to at least one frame defining element on each of said sides; and a glass panel removably secured to each of said sides by said clips so as to be framed by said frame defining elements.

4. A gas lamp as set forth in claim 3 wherein the frame defining elements on each of said sides define trapezoidal frames having the larger base thereof disposed upwardly of the smaller base thereof.

5. A gas lamp as set forth in claim 3 wherein the remainder of said sides comprise two sides and said two piece body comprises two generally complementary halves joinable along a vertically directed, diagonally extending imaginary plane of symmetry of the body.

6. A gas lamp as set forth in claim 1 further including a support which comprises a generally tubular skirt for peripheral engagement with a lamp post, said skirt being surmounted by a disk-like support base having a centrally disposed burner receiving opening formed therethrough; and means securing said support base to the remainder of said sides.

7. A gas lamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is composed of porcelain coated cast metal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

W. M. FRYE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GAS LAMP INCLUDING: A CHAMBER DEFINING BODY HAVING A PLURALITY OF GLASS PANEL RECEIVING SIDES, SAID SIDES BEING OBLIQUELY ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID SIDES BEING INTEGRALLY FIXEDLY JOINED TO ONE ANOTHER ALONG A LATERAL EDGE OF EACH, SAID TWO SIDES BEING HINGEDLY JOINED TO THE REMAINDER OF SAID SIDES VIA HINGE MEANS ON THE OPPOSITE LATERAL EDGE OF ONE OF SAID TWO SIDES SO AS TO BE SWINGABLE TOWARD THE REMAINDER OF SAID SIDES IN A CLOSED POSITION THEREOF AND AWAY THEREFROM IN AN OPEN POSITION THEREOF TO CLOSE AND OPEN SAID CHAMBER, AND LATCH MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID TWO SIDES COOPERABLE WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE BODY FOR REMOVABLY SECURING SAID TWO SIDES IN THE CLOSED POSITION THEREOF. 